The 10,000 regular nonresident spring permits are not allocated by draw; availability depends on queue position at the online sale. The 2026 report recorded 9,997 regular nonresident permits, along with 1,223 nonresident youth and 145 nonresident landowner permits. Statewide, 27,531 spring permits were sold, up 3.1% from 26,691 in 2025. Of 22,009 unique buyers, 74.9% bought one permit and 25.1% bought two.

The 2026 spring harvest estimate was 14,954 birds, 6.3% above 2025. Regular and landowner permit success reached 58.7%, and youth success was 52.6%.

Fall permits have no resident/nonresident quota and no draw. In 2025, 3,237 permits were sold, down 1.7% from 2024. Estimated harvest rose 2.3% to 1,043 birds, and overall success improved to 32.2%. Nonresidents harvested an estimated 144 turkeys and had 38% success compared with 31% for residents. The latest fall report also shows that youth permits accounted for 18.4% of sales.

There are no regular turkey draw hunts. For a nonresident, the best spring opportunity is the first regular permit secured at the January sale; the second permit adds another bird but doubles permit cost. The best guaranteed opportunity is fall because permits are unlimited, statewide, and valid for either sex. At $8.50, the youth permit is Nebraska's best value option, with youth shotgun access beginning one week before the regular shotgun opener.

Nebraska offers statewide spring adult and youth permits, statewide fall adult and youth permits, and spring/fall landowner permits. A nonresident landowner must own at least 320 acres of agricultural farm or ranch land; the permit is restricted to the qualifying property listed on the permit. Spring regular nonresident permits are OTC only until the 10,000 quota is exhausted. Fall permits are truly unlimited OTC.

Nebraska contains Merriam's, Eastern, and Rio Grande, but most birds are hybrids rather than genetically pure representatives of one subspecies. Merriam's plumage characteristics are most consistent in the Panhandle and Niobrara River valley. Eastern influence increases in wooded eastern river corridors, while Rio Grande characteristics occur most often through central and southern portions of the state. In the 2026 survey, 43% of nonresident respondents said they pursued Merriam's, 15% Rio Grandes, and 9% Easterns; 32% had no subspecies preference.

Spring harvest has rebounded for two consecutive years under the current two permits and 10,000 nonresident quota framework. The 2026 estimate of 14,954 birds was 43.2% above the 2024 estimate, while spring permit sales rose 7.6% across that period.

Fall harvest also improved after the 2023 reduction to a 60 day season and one permit per hunter. Harvest increased from 821 in 2023 to 1,043 in 2025, while permits remained near 3,200.

A standard hunter may hold two spring permits and one fall permit. Each spring permit authorizes one male or bearded female, with no more than one turkey harvested per calendar day. The fall permit authorizes one turkey of either sex. Qualifying landowners may obtain one additional restricted landowner permit in spring and one in fall. Multispecies lottery awards do not count against normal species permit limits. All harvested turkeys must be reported through Telecheck within 48 hours, before the carcass leaves Nebraska, and no later than the post season deadline.

A Nebraska turkey permit and a $25 Habitat Stamp are required; a hunt (small game) permit is not required. The stamp is valid for all hunting during the calendar year. Prices below include the $3 permit issuing fee. One adult nonresident turkey hunt costs $183 ($158 permit plus $25 stamp); two spring permits cost $341. A hunter who already bought the stamp for spring does not need another for fall.

Firearm hunters ages 12 through 29 must carry proof of firearm hunter education or use an Apprentice Hunter Education Exemption Certificate. Hunters under age 12 and apprentice-certificate holders must be accompanied by a licensed hunter age 19 or older; the mentor must meet hunter-education requirements if age 19-29. Bowhunter education is not required for turkey hunting.